Argument Writing- Choosing a topic

Grade 6- You should choose a topic that impacts your everyday life--a rule at school or home that you would like to change, longer recess, more gym, art, or music class, a new ski club location, etc.  Remember, the best topic will be one you actually care about and one that you can find facts and evidence to back your claim/position! Topics need to be approved by Ms. Casassa.

Grades 7 and 8- You should choose a significant issue or topic and take a side.  Your topic should be one that you can research, gather evidence/facts, and write at least two pages about!  There are many sites that you can go to for help choosing a topic.  I have also included a list of possible topics.  Be sure your topic is middle school appropriate. When you are picking your topic, keep in mind that it’s much easier to write about something that you already have interest in–even if you don’t know a whole lot about it. Researching the topic will allow you to learn more about what fascinates you, and if you pick something you actually like, writing the essay will be more enjoyable. Topics need to be approved by Ms. Casassa.

Once you have chosen a topic, go to Google Classroom to complete Argument Essay Graphic Organizer

Here are some places to start researching possible topics.

Newsela Pro/Con Articles


 List of Argument Topics

Pro/Con--THE LEADING SOURCE FOR PROS & CONS OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES

Argument Writing Topics

NY Times Learning Blog- Argument Writing Topics 

Examples of Strong Thesis Statements for Argument Essays-- this is a good spot to find topic ideas!

Other possible topics:
    Is Cheating Getting Worse?
    Should Students Be Able to Grade Their Teachers?
    Should Reading and Math Be Taught in Gym Class Too?
    Should Schools Offer Cash Bonuses for Good Test Scores?
    Do Schools Provide Students With Enough Opportunities to Be Creative?
    How Important Is Arts Education?
    Does Gym Help Students Perform Better in All Their Classes?
    Who Should Be Able to See Students’ Records?
    Are Children of Illegal Immigrants Entitled to a Public Education?
    Is Your School Day Too Short?
    Do You Think a Longer School Calendar Is a Good Idea?
    Should the Dropout Age Be Raised?
    How Should Schools Address Bullying?
    Should Schools Put Tracking Devices in Students’ ID Cards?
    What Do You Think of Grouping Students by Ability in Schools?
    Do We Need a New Way to Teach Math?
    Does Class Size Matter?
    Should All Children Be Able to Go to Preschool?
    Do You Support Affirmative Action?
    Is animal testing necessary?
    Should consumers buy items from countries that endorse child labor?
    Do patients have a right to die via physician-assisted suicide?
    Should children’s beauty pageants be banned?
    Does freedom of speech give people the right to use hate speech?
    Do people who commit heinous crimes deserve the death penalty?
    Do children deserve/need an allowance?
    Is it okay for parents to monitor teens’ internet use?
    Should parents be able to spank their children?
    Should parents push their kids into extracurricular activities such as music or sports?
    Is a child’s room really theirs, or is it their parents’?
    Should single people be able to adopt children as easily as couples?
    Should parents pay children for good grades?




   

Grades 6-8 Technology: Introducing...The 2016 Presidential Candidates--Create an Infomercial or Brochure

Introducing...The 2016 Presidential Candidates--Create an Infomercial or Brochure

Learn about the election:  Click here to read Newsela articles about the candidates and the issues
Assignment: 
Part I:  Choose one of the candidates running in the NH Primary Election on Tuesday, February 9, 2016.  Research the candidate and identify his/her position on the following three issues:  economy, immigration and health care.  Be sure to check at least two sources and that they are credible.

How do you know a site is credible?  What is it’s web address?  Who is the author?  Does there seem to be a bias (is the reporting one sided?).

Cite your sources.   Be sure to copy and paste the web address of the sites you use. 

DO NOT PLAGIARIZE! DO NOT COPY AND PASTE FROM WEB SITES!  Put your research in your own words or use direct quotes!


Part II:  Create an infomercial or brochure.  For your infomercial:Watch a couple political campaigns on YouTube. Choose one of the topics to create a infomercial about.  Use images, music and words to get your candidate’s message across.  We should know what his/her position is on the issue and what they plan to do to improve the area of concern.  Be sure to be accurate and do not sensationalize!  An iMovie would work well for this project.  If you have other tech ideas check with Ms. Casassa first. For your brochure:  use a brochure template on Microsoft word.  Include images/visuals, bold captions and headlines and text that shows their platform on one of the issues.  The layout and appearance are VERY important.  Proofread your work!


Sites to start with:
On The Issues
NY TImes:  Who is Running for President?
The Atlantic:  The US Presidential Race-A Cheat Sheet
CNN 2016 Election -this site has campaign videos
Presidential Candidates 2016
Fox News 2016 Candidate Watch
Fact Check.org- not sure you believe what th candidates are saying?  Go to Fact Check and find out!
I Side With

 Copy of Graphic Organizer:

Name of candidate
ECONOMY
HEALTH CARE
IMMIGRATION
OTHER

Rubric:

	Political Primary Infomercial/Brochure
Requirements	Comments	Points
Research- handed in graphic organizer, clearly explained platform on each issue, cited sources		/25
Demonstrated proficiency with technology- used either iMovie or Microsoft word, can save and insert images, can use features available		/20
Final product clearly presents candidate’s views on one issue- information is accurate, explained thoroughly		/30
Presentation-you clearly present your candidate and issue.  Able to answer questions on both from class.		/15
Conventions- error free—no spelling, grammatical or function error!	:	/10
Grade:		/100

Add to The Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman Thinglink

Show what you know!  Add an interesting fact, vidoe, music, link to the images on the Thinglink.  Log in to Thinglink:
barnardla@barnardschool.org
barnardla58
Click here to go to the Thinglink

Thinglink on Underground Railroad

Maya Ying Lin and the Vietnam Memorial

Before we begin reading Always to Remember:  The Vision of Maya Ying Lin we are going to learn a little about the Vietnam Memorial and Maya Ying Lin.  Complete the first section of the KWL chart, listing what you already know about the Vietnam Memorial and Lin--it's okay if you don't know anything.  Now, complete the middle column, listing what you want to know about each.  As you look at the images of the Memorial, listen to the videos and then read the story, complete the third column, what you have learned.

Create your own Playlist on MentorMob!